Control system



L. G. RILEY CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 30 1916.

Patented June 1, 1920.

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WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY L. G. RILEY. CONTROL SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. 1916.

' Patented une 1, 1920.

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LYNN G. RILEY, 0F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AS'SIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMEANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed October 30, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYNN Gr. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of lVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ControlSystems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to systems of control and particularly to systemsof control for electrically propelled vehicles.

. One object of my invention is to provide a system of control whereinthe motors may be operated in series and in parallel-circuit relationand the transition of the motors from series to parallel-circuitrelation may be effected by means of switches and a controller segment.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system of control of theabove-indicated character that shall have one set of resistors and meansfor effecting different combinations of said resistors when the motorsare in series and when they are in parallel-circuit relation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system of controlprovided with means for effecting the automatic acceleration of themotors from the initial series position to the final parallel positionand for effecting manual control of the motors during a number ofpredetermined acceleration steps. Another object of my invention is toprovide a system of the above-indicated character embodying a limitswitch having a series and a shunt coil and an overload trip having theusual reset coil. The reset coil and the shunt coil of said limit switchare placed in the same series circuit and are so constructed that saidcoils may not be simultaneously operated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a system of theabove-indicated character wherein the breaking of all the main circuitsis accomplished by three switches.

In automatic control systems now in service, trouble is experiencedin'controlling the speed of the vehicles containing tl1em,when thetraffic is congested, as the motors therein may only be run at a limitednumber of speeds. However, in my present invention, the operator mayhave absolute control of Specification of Letters Patent.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Serial No. 128,413.

the speed of the car when the traffic is congested and the motors arebeing operated in series relation, and, when the car is being operatedwhere the ti'aflic is less congested, the motor, if desired, may beautomatically accelerated from the initial series position to the finalparallel position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of asystem of control embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a chart illustratingthe sequence of operation of the switches illustrated in Fig. 1; andFig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the auxiliary control circuits forgoverning the system illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, four motors M1, M2, M3 and Met,respectively comprising armatures A1, A2, A3 and A 1 and field windingsF1, F2, F3 and F4, are adapted to be connected in series-parallel and inparallelcircuit relation by means of switches P and S and an auxiliarycontrol drum 1, and are adapted to be connected in series with resistorsR1, R2, R3, R4 and I15, across a supply circuit comprising conductors 25and g, by means of a line switch LS. A resistor control drum 2,comprising movable contact segments 3 and 4, is adapted to engagecontact fingers 5 to 12, inclusive, for excluding the resistors R1 toB5, inclusive, from the circuit of the motors M1 to M4, i11- clusive. Areversing switch RS of usual construction is provided in circuit withthe motors M1 to M4, inclusive, and the coil of an overload trip switchOT is provided in circuit with the motors. A limit switch L, comprisingtwo differential coils, a shunt coil 13 and a series coil 14, isprovided for governing the automatic acceleration of the motors, theseries coil 14 being placed in circuit with the motors as illustrated inFig. 1 of the drawings.

The auxiliary control circuits illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawingsembody a master controller MG, a main control drum 15, and the auxiliaryand the resistor control drums illustrated in Fig. 1. The three controldrums 1, 2 and 15 are mounted on one shaft 16 and are adapted to becontrolled by an apparatus PK which is described in detail later. A.master reverser MR, comprising contact segments 17 and 18. is adapted toengage contact fingers 19, 20 and 21 when moved in a forward or in areverse direction for controlling the forward and the reverse coils fand r, by means of the contact segments 22 and 23 which cooperate withcontact fingers 24, 25 and 2G, and 2. 28 and 29.

The master controller BIC embodies a movable contact segment 30 which isadapted to engage contact fingers 31 to 37, inclusive, for completingcircuits from the battery B through the coils of the switches LS, S andP, and the coils of a standard magnet valve 38 and of an inverted magnetvalve 39, which is described in detail later.

The apparatu PK embodies a rack bar 40, which is adapted to engage apinion 41 mounted on the controller shaft 16 and is provided withpistons 42 and 43 which are attached to the respective ends thereof. Thepistons 42 and 43 operate within cylinders 44 and 45 which are suppliedwith air pressure by magnet valves 46 and 4?. The standard magnet valve46, in its normal inoperative position, is adapted to connect thecylinder 24 to the atmosphere, and, when the coil 38 thereof isenergized, the valve is operated to connect the cylinder 44 to an airsupply 48. The inverted magnet valve 47, in its normal inoperativeposition, is adapted to connect the cylinder 45 to an air supply 49,and, when the coil 39 thereof is energized, the valve is operated toconnect the cylinder 45 to the atmosphere. Thus, with both magnet valvesreleased and in the position illustrated, the cylinder 45 will besupplied with air pressure and the air pressure within the cylinder 44will be released so that the apparatus PK and the control drums 1, 2 and15 are moved to, and held in, the position illustrated in Fig. In casethe magnet valves 46 and 4'? are simultaneously operated, the airpressure within the cylinder 45 is released and the cylinder 44 isconnected to the air supply 48, whereby the apparatus PK may be moved toits extreme right hand position. By continuously operating the standardmagnet valve 46 and intermittently operating the inverted magnet valve47, an intermittent operation of the apparatus PK may be obtained.

The main control drum 15 embodies contact segments 50 and 51 which areadapted to engage the contact fingers 52 to 60, in elusive, when movedthrough positions a to 75, inclusive, for governing the operation of theapparatus PK. A push button PB is provided for bridging the contactterminals 61 to close a circuit from the battery B through a reset coil62 and the shunt coil 13 of the limit switch L. The switches LS, P and Sare provided with interlock switches, the purpose of which will be selfevident when. the circuits therethrough are traced. A line relay LR isprovided in the circuit of the coil of the line switch LS, and the coilthereof is connected directly across the supply conductors 25 and 5 A.plurality of train-line conductors 63 to 71, inclusive, are provided forconnecting the master controller to the coils of the various switchesand the contact fingers of the main control drum l5.

In case the automatic acceleration of the motors from the initial seriesposition to the final parallel position is desired, the mastercontroller is moved to position 0, but, if the manual control of themotors in the series positions is desired, the master controller ismoved successively through the positions a, 7), 0, (Z and e. In order toexplain the operation of the system, the manual control when the mastercontroller is moved successively through positions (a, 7), c, (l and cis described.

lVhen the master reverser MR is moved to its forward position, asillustrated, and the master controller is moved to position a, a circuitis conu leted, from one terminal of the battery B, through contactfingers 32 and 31, which are bridged by the contact segment 30, contactfingers 20 and 21, which are bridged by the contact segment 18,train-line conductor 69, contact fingers 25 and 26, which are bridged bythe contact segment 22, overload trip switch OT, line relay LR, coil ofthe line switch LS, interlock switch D1, which is mounted on the shaft16 with the control drums 15, 2 and 1, and the train-line conductor '70to the other terminal of the battery B. The line switch LSv is thusoperated and a second circuit is completed in position a of the mastercontroller MC, which may be traced from the one terminal of the batteryB. through contact fingers and 33, which are bridged by the contactsegment 30, trainline conductor 67 where the circuit divides, one branchextending through the coil 38 at the standard magnet valve 46,interloclr switch LS-iu, and the train-line conductor 70 to the otherterminal of the battery B, and the second. branch extending through thecontact fingers 58 and 59, which are bridged by the contact segment 51,the coil of the switch S, interlock switches P- out and LS-in, and thetrain-line conductor 70 to the other terminal of the battery B. The coilis energized to operate the stand ard magnet valve 46 and supply airpressure to the cylinder 4-4, but no movement of the apparatus PK isaccomplished at this time, the inverted magnet valve 47 is in its normalinoperative position so that air pressure is supplied to the cylinderwhich counterbalances the air pressure in the cylinder 44. The operationof the switches LS and S completes a circuit in series through themotors M]. to 314, inclusive. which may be traced from the supplyconductor 1, through the coil of the overload trip switch OT, lineswitch LS, resistors R1, R2, R3,

B4 and B5, motors M3 and M4 in parallel, switch S, motors M1 and M2 inparallel, and the series coil 14 of the limit switch L to the groundconductors g.

lVhen the master controller is moved to position b, a circuit iscompleted from one terminal of the battery B, through contact fingers 32and 34, which are bridged by the contact segment 30, train-lineconductor 66, contact fingers 55 and 56, which are bridged by thecontact segment 50, limit switch L, coil 39 of the inverted magnet valve47 interlock switch S-in, and the train-line conductor 70 to the otherterminal of the battery B. The coil 39 is energized and the invertedmagnet valve 47 is operated to release the air within the cylinder andto advance the apparatus PK and the control drums 1, 2 and 15 to theposition b, where the circuit of the coil 39 is broken by reason of thedisengagement of the contact finger from the contact segment 50. Inposition b of the main control drum 2, the contact segment 3 engagescontact fingers 5 and 6 to exclude the resistor R1 from the circuit ofthe motors M1 to M4, inclusive.

If the master controller is moved to position 0 and the limit switch Lis released, a circuit is again completed through the coil 39 of theinverted magnet valve 47, which may be traced from one terminal oi thebattery B, through the contact fingers 32 and 35, which are bridged bythe con tact segment 30, train-line conductor 65, contact fingers 54,and 56, which are bridged by the contact segment 50, limit switch L,coil 39, interlock switch S-in, and train-line conductor 70 to the otherterminal of the battery B. The coil 39 is thus energized to operate theapparatus PK and advance the control drums 1, 2 and 15 to position 0,where the contact finger 54 disengages the contact segment 50 todeenergize the coil 39 and arrest the movement of the apparatus PK andthe control drums attached thereto. In position 0 of the main controldrum 2, the contact segment 3 engages the contact finger 8 to excludethe resistors R2 and R3 from the circuit of the motors M1 to M4,inclusive.

When the limit switch L is released and the master controller is movedto position (i, another circuit is completed through the coil 39, whichmay be traced from one terminal of the'battery B, through the contactfingers 32 and 36, which are bridged by the contact segment 30,train-line conductor 64, contact fingers 53 and 56, which are bridged bythe contact segment 50, limit switch L, coil 39, interlock switch Sin,and the trainline conductor to the other terminal of the battery B. Theapparatus PK and the contact drums 1, 2 and 15 are advanced to position(5 in a manner similar to that before described and the contact segment3 of the main control drum 2 engages contact finger 9 to exclude all theresistors R1 to R5, inclusive, fromthe circuit of the motors M1 to M4,inclusive.

In moving the master controller to posi tion 6, the transition of themotors from series to parallel-circuit relation is first effected andthen the automatic acceleration of the motors from the first parallelposition 6 to the final parallel position It is effected by means of thelimit switch L. In position 6 of the master controller, a circuit iscompleted from one terminal of the battery B, through the contactfingers 32 and 37, which are bridged by the contact segment 30,train-line conductor 63, contact fingers 52 and 56, which are bridged bythe contact segment 50, limit switch L, coil 39, interlock switch S-in,and train-line conductor 70 to the other terminal of the battery B. Thecontrol drums 1, 2 and 15 are thus advanced to position a, the coil oithe switch S is deenergized by reason of the disengagement of thecontact finger 59 from the contact segment 51, the coil of the switch Pis energized by reason of the engagement of contact finger G9 withcontact finger 51, and the auxiliary control drum 1 engages contactfingers associated therewith. The motors M1 to M4, inclusive, are thusconnected in parallel relation by a circuit which may be traced from thesupply conductor 2, through the coil of the overload trip switch OT,line switch. LS, resistors R3, R4 and R5, where the circuit divides, onebranch extending through the switch P, the motors M1 and M2 in parallel,and the series coil H: of the limit switch L, to the return supplyconductor 5 and the second branch extending through the motors M3 and M4in paral lel, and the auxiliary control drum 1, to

the return supply conductor g. The acceleration of the motors fromposition a to the final parallel position 72 is accomplished, in a wellknown manner, by means of the limit switch L.

The overload trip switch QT may take any well-known form, and is herediagram matically shown as comprising a coil 74 that is connected inseries relation with the motor circuit for magnetizing a core member 75to attract a swinging armature 76 into its uppermost position underconditions of overload-current flow. A contact disk 77 is insulated fromthe core 75 and is con nected in circuit with the actuating coil of theline switch LS, as shown in Fig. 3.

A pivoted latch 78 is biased to the illustrated position by a suitablespring 79, while the core 30 oi? the reset coil 62 is positionedopposite the lower end of the latch 7 8.

The operation of the trip switch may be set forth as follows: upon theoccurrence oi overload conditions the motor circuit and, therefore, inthe switch coil 74, the core 7 5 and the armature 76 are attractedupwardly to open the circuit including the contact disk 77 and thuscause the line switch to open. Reclosure of the trip switch and,therefore, of the line switch is prevented by reason of the fact thatthe latch 78 now upholds the armature 76 to maintain the trip switch inits open position.

lVhen the motorman desires to reset the overload trip and continueoperation of the motors, the push button PB is operated to bridge thecontact fingers 61 and complete a circuit which may be traced from oneterminal of the battery I), through the contact fingers 61 bridged bythe push button PB, train-line conductor 71, reset coil 62, interlockswitch LS-out, and the train-line conductor 70, to the other terminal ofthe battery B. The reset coil is thus energized and the overload tripswitch OT is released to its illustrated closed position, by suitableactuation of the latch 78. The shunt coil 13 of the limit switch L isbridged by the interlock switch LS-out so as not to be affected by thecircuit which is closed by the push button PB. In case an abnormalcurrent is flowing through the motors, such as to prevent the release ofthe limit switch L, and it is desired to accelerate the motors, the pushbutton P13 is operated to energize the differential coil 13 of the limitswitch L and overcome the action of the series coil 14:. Inasmuch as theline switch LS is now in an operated position, the interlock switch LS-out is operated to open the shunt circuit around the coil 13. The resetcoil 62 and the shunt coil 13 of the limit switch L are now inseries-circuit relation and the shunt coil 13 is energized so as toovercome the action of the series coil 14;, but, by reason of the greatimpedance of the shunt coil 13, the reset coil 62 is not energizedsufficiently to affect the overload trip switch OT.

In the above system, it may be noted that the transition of the motorsfrom series to parallel relation is accomplished by means of theswitches P and S and the auxiliary control drum 1, and that one set ofresistors, namely, the resistors R1 to R5, inclusive, effects theacceleration of the motors in series and in parallel relation byindependent steps. The control of the motors may be automatic by movingthe master con troller directly to position 6 or the motors may bemanually controlled. in the series position by successively moving themastc controller through positions a, Z), c, and (Z. The shunt coil ofthe limit switch and the reset coil of the overload trip are placed inthe same circuit and may be selectively operated, as desired.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific circuit connections andarrangement and location of parts herein set forth, as variousmodifications thereof may be effected with out departing from the spiritand scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only suchlimitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system of control, the combination with a plurality of motorsadapted to be operated in series and in parallel relation, of means foreffecting the transition of the motors from series to parallel relation,said means comprising two normally open independent switches and acontroller segment for directly completing the motor-transitioncircuits, and means comprising a master controller for governing saidswitches and said controller segment.

2. In a system of control, the combination with a plurality of motorsadapted to be operated in series 1nd in parallel circuit relation, oftwo switches and a controller segment, and means for effecting thecontinuous-circuit transition of said motors from series to pa"allel-circuit relation while employing said switches and the controllersegment for completing the motor circuits.

3. In a system of control, the combination with a plurality of motorsadapted to be operated in series and in parallel-circuit relation, ofmeans for effecting the continuous-circuit transition of said motorsfrom series to parallel-circuit relation comprising switches and acontroller segment for completing the motor circuits.

l. In a system of control, the combination with four motors adapted tobe operated in series-parallel and in parallel circuit relation, ofmeans for effecting transition of said motors from series-parallel toparallelcircuit relation, and two normally open independent switches anda controller segment for completing all motor circuits during thetransition of said motors from seriesparallel to parallel-circuitrelation.

5. In a'system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, aplurality of motors adapted to be connected across said supply circuit,and a limit switch having a series and a shunt coil for effectingautomatic acceleration of said motors, of a reset coil in series withthe limit shunt coil, and means for shunting said limit shunt coil whenthe reset coil is operated.

6. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, aplurality of motors adapted to be connected across said supply circuit,a limit switch having a series and a shunt coil for effecting the:uitomatic acceleration of said motors, and a reset coil, of a singlecircuit including said shunt coil and said reset coil, and means foroperating either the shunt coil or the reset coil according to whetherthe shunt coil is short-circuited.

7. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, a plufality of motors, a line switch for connecting the motors across thesupply circuit, a limit switch having a series and a shunt coil foreffecting the automatic acceleration of said motors, and a reset coil,of a single wire for effecting the energization of said shunt coil andsaid reset coil, and means for preventing the operation of said resetcoil in case the line switch is closed and for preventing the operationof the shunt limit coil in case the line switch is open.

8. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit and aplurality of motors adapted to be connected in series and in parallelrelation across the supply circuit, of means comprising three normallyopen independent switches and a controller segment for connecting saidmotors in series and in parallel relation across the supply circuit andfor effecting all main motorcircuit breaks during the transition of saidmotors from series to parallel-circuit relation.

9. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit and aplurality of motors adapted to be connected in series and in parallelrelation across the supply circuit, of three switches and a controllersegment for connecting said motors in series and in parallel relationacross the supply circuit and for effecting the continuous-circuittransition of said motors from series to parallel-circuit relation, andmeans for effecting all main circuit breaks at said thre switches.

10. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit andfor motors adapted to be connected across said supply circuit, of meanscomprising three normally open independent switches and a controllersegment for connecting said motors in seriesparallel and inparallel-circuit relation across the supply circuit and for effectingall main circuit breaks at said switches.

11. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit and aplurality of motors adapted to be connected across said supply circuit,of means comprising switches and controller segments for completing mainmotor-circuits to accelerate said motors in series and inparallel-circuit relation and to effect the continuous-circuittransition of the motors from series to parallel-circuit relation.

12. In a system of control, the combination with a plurality of motorsadapted to be operated in series and in parallel-circuit relation, ofmeans comprising two switches and a controller segment for efiectingcontinuous-circuit transition of the motors from series toparallel-circuit relation, all motor-circuit breaks during transitionbeing effected at said switches and the controller segment.

13. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, and aplurality of motors adapted to be operated in series and inparallel-circuit relation, of three normally open independent switchesand a controller segment for effecting all main motor-circuitconnections when the motors are connected across the supply circuit andwhen transition of the motors from series to parallelcircuit relation iseffected.

1 1. In a system of control, the combination with a motor, and meanscomprising a limit switch having two differential windings for effectingacceleration of the motor, of an overload trip switch having a resetcoil connected in series with one of said differential windings, andmeans for shunting the last-mentioned differential winding underpredetermined conditions.

15. In a system of control, the combination with a motor, and meanscomprising a limit switch having two differential windin 's foreffecting acceleration of the motor, of an overload trip switch having areset winding and adapted to effect the opening of the motor circuitunder predetermined conditions, said reset coil being located in serieswith one of said differential windings, and means for preventing thesimultaneous operation of the reset coil and the energization of thelast-mentioned differential winding.

16. In a system of control, the combination with a motor, and meanscomprising a limit switch having a main and an auxiliary coil foreffecting acceleration of the motor under various load conditions, of a.reset coil associated with said auxiliary coil and means for shuntingsaid auxiliary coil when the reset coil is energized under predeterminedconditions.

17. In a system of control, the combination with a plurality of motors,and means for operating the motors in various circuit relations, of alimit switch having a plurality of coils for effecting automaticacceleration of said motors, a reset coil in series with one of saidcoils, and means for shunting said last-mentioned coil when the resetcoil is operated under predetermined conditions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th dayof Oct.

LYNN G; RILEY.

